Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Out walking the dog last night with my son, a nearby tree suddenly erupted. The sky overhead was suddenly filled with crows. They seemed to pour out of the leaves - black streams running out into the air for over a minute until the sky above us was speckled with them. The wonder of it - that a single tree can contain so many birds ... and not little ones, like sparrows and finches, but large ones like crows. A moment before they went airborne I would have thought we were alone - a man, a boy, and his dog and not another living thing in sight. The next we were overshadowed by thousands of beating wings, thousands of beating hearts. And that was only one of the many trees in the area that I know also serve as rookeries and equally team with life. I know there are times when we act as if we own this planet. But really we don't. At best we may claim to share it.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, a most learned man with a remarkable command of languages, recently shared his method for learning different tongues (in an interview* here):

'I studied foreign languages using the Gospel. I always began with the Gospel of John. It is the most convenient Gospel for learning words, they are repeated constantly: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, the same was in the beginning with God.” Experts say that the vocabulary of the Gospel of John is half of that of the other Gospels, although in volume it is no less than the others. This lexical laconicism is connected to the fact that many of the words are repeated.

'Why is it convenient to learn language from the Gospels? Because when you read a familiar text which you know practically off by heart, you don’t have to look up words in the dictionary, you recognize the words. That’s how I learnt Greek. At first I read the Gospel of John, then I read the three other Gospels, then I began to read the Epistles of the apostles, then I began to read the Church Fathers in Greek. Moreover, when I studied Greek, I listened to a tape recording of the Liturgy in Greek. I studied it in the pronunciation which is used by Greeks today.'

Fascinating, don't you think? And, if I may suggest, would it not be a great way to increase biblical literacy if the system were to become more popular?*(Thanks to Fr Hunwicke for his post here which promoted me to do the googling that led me to this interview.)

Sunday, August 28, 2016

May
my words be in the name of the Holy & Undivided Trinity: Father,
Son, & Holy Spirit. Amen.

In
our Gospel reading today from St Luke, we are presented with a
somewhat unedifying scene. He is in the home of a Pharisee and the
guests – we do not know whether they are also Pharisees of simply
men of rank and importance from the locality – are all jockeying
for the best seats, the places of honour … and by doing so they are
making it clear to all around them how important they think they are
… and that they consider that their importance is something that
must be recognised by all around them.

Now,
in our own society, we don't do formal dining very often. And when we
do, the seating tends to be assigned in advance. So it might be
useful to go into more detail as to what it going on in this scene.
You may have noticed in some passages from the Gospels that the
sacred author mentions that our Lord and his companions are reclining
at table. That is because in the Mediterranean world of the time,
especially on formal occasions, the guests were place on a series of
wide couches, one each on three sides of a low, square table, with
the fourth side being left open so that the servants might have space
to serve. Each couch would normally have three places. The host sat
at the one to the left of the open side; with the place next to him
on the couch being reserved for the most honoured guest, and the one
next to him for the next most honoured; and so on until all the nine
spaces were filled. If there happened to be more people than that
number at the party, then they were seated elsewhere … perhaps
sitting on cushions on little tables placed nearby.

In
the scene St Luke describes, the guests who think themselves most
important are vying for the best places. So perhaps the host is not
yet present in the room – he may be at the entryway to his home,
greeting others who are still arriving. And without him present to
say to those who presume they will be at the 'top table' with him
'sit here, brother' and 'no, you must sit there, my friend' they are
arguing among themselves … and clearly making something of a
spectacle of themselves.

Our
Lord uses the occasion to admonish their behaviour, telling them a
parable that is based upon the very actions that they themselves are
in the process of carrying out. But our Lord, of course, is concerned
with the social etiquette of his day. His concern, rather, is the
pride these men are displaying and the moral failing it indicates and
the spiritual dangers that go along with it. This is why he calls
them to behave humbly, with humility.

Because
humility is not about being self-effacing or not pushing yourself
forward. The humble person, in the Christian sense, is someone who
makes a truthful evaluation of themselves, without any falsehoods or
deceptions, and acknowledges what they are when compared with God;
they recognise how insignificant they are in comparison with their
creator, how dependent they are upon him, and their own inclination
toward sin. Humility orients the person to the necessity of placing
their own will subordinate to that of God's, which leads them to
humbly be obedient to his laws – striving to be obedient to them at
all times, and being sincerely remorseful when they fail, asking his
forgiveness and truly striving to do better in the future.

Pride,
on the other hand, leads us to put our will before that of God,
causing us to sin. Pride causes us to say that no one can tell us
what to do – not even God. And even if we can not bring ourselves
to defy God so openly, pride can still lead us to refuse to obey
God's law. Consider the references to the moral law that we have
today in our reading from the letter to the Hebrews. How many there
are today who refuse to follow those precepts, saying that they are
outdated, irrelevant, that God does not worry about such things –
even though the inspired words of Sacred Scripture flatly contradict
their claims.

This
is why Christ condemns the pride of the Pharisees that leads them to
bicker over seating arrangements. Not because of the societal
implications of such pettiness; but because of the spiritual ones.
Christ did not come into the world to make us good citizens; he came
to make us holy children of God during our time in this world. The
person who is holy will naturally behave rightly towards God and
neighbour; leading a life that leads to a place at the only banquet
that matters – the heavenly and eternal banquet in heaven. And let
us pray that all here will take their place at that banquet at the
end of their days. Amen.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

The first and most obvious meaning of this commandment is of the duty of young children to obey their parents in all that is lawful. This includes the child being obedient to all in authority over them. But this commandment also speaks to parents. They have a duty to not only to care for children's material needs, but to pass on the faith by word and example of life. Just as the first will often require sacrifices, so too will the other. And it speaks to us all: first in the duty of care that we must have towards the elderly and infirm among us, cherishing them and doing all we can do to respect the dignity they are due as children of God; and also, as with children, respecting all lawful authority. That obedience extends to the authority exercised by the Church founded by Christ himself.

Friday, August 19, 2016

'The greatest among you must become the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.'

Luke 22.26

Reflection:

Followers of Christ seek no glory for themselves, but desire only to serve others. And the greatest assistance one can render to another is leading them to the path whereby their soul may be saved. In what way do you do others this service? Is the example of your life such that it may lead others to eternal life?

Thursday, August 18, 2016

'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets and invite everyone you meet to the wedding banquet.'

Matthew 22.8,9

Reflection

The parable of the wedding feast is a stark warning to us all. Many who complacently believe their place in heaven is assured have shown themselves not worthy by virtue of how they chose to live. What of you – are you living a life that shows you to be worthy of the invitation you have received?

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

'It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' Matthew 19.24Reflection Wealth is not evil in itself; but it is seductive. The riches of this world can lure you into having greater regard for it than for having treasure in heaven.

Monday, August 15, 2016

'If you wish to be perfect, go, sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor, & you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'

Matthew 19.21

Reflection

The problem of the rich young man is not his wealth, but his attachment to his possessions. It is something that he can not give up, not even for the sake of attaining the kingdom of heaven. What is there in your life that you can not give up, even though holding on to it may cost you eternal life?

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Give to a hungry man and what you give becomes yours and, indeed, returns to you with interest. As the sower profits from the wheat that falls into the ground, so will you profit greatly in the world to come from the bread that you place before a hungry man. Your husbandry must be the sowing of heavenly seed – 'Sow integrity for yourself' says Scripture. You are going to leave your money behind you here whether you wish it or not. On the other hand, you will take with you to the Lord the honour you have won through good works. In the presence of the universal Judge, all the people will surround you, acclaim you as a public benefactor, and tell of your generosity and kindness.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

But Jesus said to them: Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such as these.

Matthew 19. 14

Reflection Christ had a special love for children. We who have care for them must be aware of the solemn obligations we have towards them, not only bringing them for baptism at the earliest opportunity, but also in being diligent in bringing them up in the faith.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Jesus said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, Made them male and female? And he said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh.

Matthew 19. 4,5

ReflectionAt marriage a man and a women become one. We must therefore take marriage with great seriousness; for what God has joined, man may not put asunder.

Reflection: Many fear today to say anything when they see another sinning. And yet it is clear from Christ's words that we have a duty to help our brethren who go astray. Help bring them back to the path with charity; it is to their good – and your own.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Jesus told his disciples 'if any man would come after me, let him deny himself.' Note that this a prerequisite, not an option. It is not a recommendation or a suggestion. He who desires to follow Christ must deny himself. Why? First, because Christ commands it of us; that should be enough for anyone who calls themselves a Christian. Second, because of the example of the Lord. He denied himself totally – being God he left heaven and became man for our sake; we who are called to be as Christ-like as possible must in our own poor way strive to emulate his great humility. Thirdly, nothing Christ teaches us is arbitrary. All is done for the salvation of our souls. Christ knew that to place our will before that of God in even the most minor matter risked leading us to damnation. And so he commanded those who would follow him to deny themselves.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

And whilst he prayed, the shape of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and glittering. And behold two men were talking with him. And they were Moses and Elijah appearing in majesty.

Luke 9. 29,30

Reflection By his Transfiguration, our Lord spoke to his disciples of the truth of who he was and the glory that was to come at his Resurrection. To us it should be a reminder of what we have known always: that Jesus is Lord.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16. 18

Reflection It is easy in these difficult days to worry about the future of the the Church. We must remember our Lord's promise that its future is assured. Thus comforted, we must then continue in the work of sharing the Gospel and bringing souls to Christ.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid.

Matthew 14. 29,30

Reflection Peter's doubt came after two great miracles: our Lord's walking on water; and his own. Yet even in his doubt he cried out to Jesus and was saved. So too must we call upon the Lord whenever we doubt or are afraid.

Ancient Faith Radio

tempus fugit! The time to repent is now!

Greek Orthodox Chant from Mount Athos - The Jesus Prayer

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The verses of Sacred Scripture for the daily Prayer Diary is from that day's Gospel reading for Holy Communion

'And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'

The letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans (12.2)

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About Me

Hi, I'm Paddy (the Rev Patrick G. Burke), a priest in the Church of Ireland. The title of the blog is from a description of me in a letter my grandmother wrote to my mother in 1965 when I was three! May God richly bless you and those whom you love today and everyday. Amen.